SOFIA — From May 8 to May 11, Bulgaria’s capital will transform into a spectacular open-air gallery as the fourth edition of the LUNAR Festival of Lights illuminates 10,000 square meters of iconic buildings and public spaces in central Sofia.
The highly anticipated event, organized as part of Sofia Municipality’s official Calendar of Cultural Events, is free to the public and will run nightly from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.
Over four evenings, residents and visitors alike will be treated to an immersive journey through light art, with a lineup that includes dynamic 3D video mappings, static projections, holographic installations, immersive domes, and a laser show across 14 locations.
The festival has grown into a major cultural attraction and this year promises its most ambitious edition yet. The festival opens at the National Gallery – Square 500, with the International Video Mapping Competition on the theme “Covenant.”
Now in its third year, the competition drew a record number of entries from 26 countries. The seven finalists will showcase their work on the museum’s façade, with a jury set to announce the winner on the final night. The competition highlights a global creative exchange centered on cultural narratives.
At the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, visitors will encounter a magical light show inspired by last year’s tale of Princess Velea. This year’s theme explores how fairy tales mirror our reality and vice versa.
Meanwhile, the façade of the National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” will celebrate Europe Day with a 3D “data sculpture,” using visual storytelling to explore the European Union’s founding principles.
Two standout 360-degree immersive experiences will be presented at the dome in the Prince’s Garden.
These 10-minute projections will plunge audiences into some of the world’s most vulnerable environments, shedding light on the planet’s most pressing challenges.
In “Crystal” Garden, a more introspective piece titled Guardians of the Light will offer a holographic, meditative experience. The light route continues along Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard to the National Gallery – Palace, where a bold video mapping show will explore how our present choices shape the future.
Slaveykov Square will come alive with two thought-provoking 3D projections: Light the Spark, an urban narrative of courage, and Reflections, a poetic exploration of identity.
Intermissions will feature performances by children from the “For Our Children” Foundation, inspired by the poem Homeland by Petko Slaveykov.
The National Palace of Culture (NDK) will feature the festival’s largest projection area. The static 3D mapping competition Bright Horizons will display works by five Bulgarian artists, while the nearby “Cosmos” fountain in the NDK underpass will dazzle with a combination of video mapping and a laser show.
Among the festival’s lasting legacies is the permanent installation In the Vortex of the City, created by students of the National Academy of Arts in 2023. Located in the underpass between Vasil Levski Blvd. and Georgi S. Rakovski St., it continues to enrich Sofia’s urban landscape.
The festival is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, European Parliament, Visa, DSK Bank, bTV Media Group, Renault, dm Bulgaria, and other partners committed to promoting public art and innovation.
With its powerful blend of technology, culture, and storytelling, LUNAR 2024 promises to be a luminous celebration of creativity in the heart of Sofia.